Opposition chooses Square

Today is the main polling day at the so-called “parliamentary elections” in Belarus. Over the whole history of the modern Belarus these would be the most non-alternative elections. Only 2.4 candidates run for one seat in the “chamber of representatives”. The elections are non-alternative in 17 constituencies. There is only one henchman of the regime there. The number of constituencies without democratic candidates is 36.

There are no democratic candidates in 9 out of 20 constituencies in Minsk, which is a half of constituencies. 263 candidates are taking part in the “elections”. As we have informed, 365 candidates have applied for registration. About 80 contenders haven’t been registered, and more than 20 withdrew from the “election” out of their own will.

The rate of oppositional parties’ representatives in district election commissions is very low, only 47 persons out of 69,865 (0.07%). As the opposition believes, it demonstrates that there won’t be honest votes count in the country again.

Old Soviet-style ballot boxes at polling stations. They are not sealed on the bottom. It is easy to undo them by a simple screwdriver…

However, the chairperson of the Central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna has stated today that 26% of voters have taken part in the early voting. Opposition representatives say that this number can be even higher. During the early voting human rights activists have registered numerous law violations. With the use of administrative pressure people were forces to come to polling stations earlier. About 80% of students have voted at many polling stations in advance. University students were force to take part in early voting under the threat of expulsion or depriving them of places in a hostel ( VIDEO ).

Oppositional political parties in their special statement have noted that the early vote is used by the Belarusian regime exclusively for rigging the election results.

During the election campaign the opposition used two tactics. Representatives of the civil campaign “European Belarus” and the “Young Front” advocated boycott of the “election” from the start. Later many democratic parties’ candidates who hadn’t been registered by the CEC or withdrew from the race as a protest against numerous violations during the “elections” joined them.

Leaders of the oppositional parties have left at disposal of candidates whether they should withdraw from the “election” or not. They recommended them to focus on recording occasions of the “election” rigging. Most of the democratic candidates have written statements that they consider the election unfair and not free, and that the new “chamber” must not be recognized categorically. The opposition is united in one thing: “the parliamentary election” shouldn’t be recognized legitimate, and calls upon the Belarusians to come to October Square of Minsk on September 28 at 8 p.m. with a demand of free elections.

The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission: “The pre-election agitation which officially started on August 28, was characterized by so far. There are very little noticeable external characteristics of election campaign”.

Andrei Sannikov, one of the leaders of the civil campaign “European Belarus”: “I am convinced that most Belarusians want real election, and not the electoral farce with is offered to us once again. The right for elections is guarantees by the Belarusian Constitution for us. The current campaign of the so-called elections is carries out according to the well-known scenario of appointing the “deputies”. This deadlock variant hasn’t done Belarus any good, and won’t do any good. That is why we not just can, we must demand holding transparent and democratic election. We can and we must be at the square in order to express our attitude to this farce and state our right for choice and freedom”.

Mikola Statkevich, the chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Narodnaya Hramada): “We regard this “election” as farce. We address the Belarusian society and urge the people to come to October Square at 8.00 pm September 28 to demonstrate their protest. It is clear today what it will lead to. We participated many times in this pseudo-election, and the situation repeats now. We urge the international society not to recognise this “election” honest.”

Candidates for deputies from the European list have burnt their certificates protesting against violations during the “election”

VINTSUK VYACHORKA, the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front party: “Conditions of this “election campaign” are worse for the democratic candidates than the campaign of 2004. Our candidates every day inform us about numerous violations at different stages of the election campaign”.

ANATOL LYABEDZKA, the leader of the United Democratic party: “On September 27 at the polling station No. 456 in Minsk during an afternoon break from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. the ballot box was opened. It is clear that the contents of the box was replaced”.

ZMITSER DASHKEVICH, the Young Front leader: “Elections started to remind a travesty from the beginning. It is a play where one puppeteer has several marionettes”.

SYARHEI KALYAKIN, the chairman of the Party of Belarusian Communists: “There are constituencies where up to 80% voters have voted earlier. For instance, students of Belarusian State Polytechnic University voted in this way. It unambiguously shows that the regime wants to get as many ballots at the early vote as possible, and then replace ballots in order to spot their candidates”. (VIDEO)

MIKALAI KHALEZIN, head of the Free Theatre: “I have two daughters of nine and fourteen years. They have grown without knowledge of free election. If the authorities look in their eyes, they won’t see their future in them: my daughters don’t like dictatorship. They like freedom and hope everything will change soon.”

Mikalai Khalezin in a play “Jeans generation”

ALYAKSANDR KAZULIN, a former political prisoner, a former candidate for presidency in Belarus: “People should understand their voice decide the destiny of the country. If this voice can’t be heard at a polling station, it must be heard at the Square”.

IRYNA KRASOUSKAYA, the leader of the initiative “We Remember”: “I would like to advise those who are trying to help the Belarusian regime to get back to the track of democracy and lift sanctions, not to forget about one of the 12 conditions of the European Union: investigation of the cases of the abducted. Solution of this question can become the factor which would mean that the time for talks has come”.

Participants of the solidarity rally near the Foreign Ministry of Poland urge the Polish authorities not to recognize “election” in Belarus

ZYANON PAZNYAK, head of the Conservative Christian Party of the Belarusian Popular Front: The Russians and Lukashenka need a legitimate “chamber of representatives”. The former ones need that to finalize the process and results of the occupation of Belarus; the latter to decline all responsibility. That is why demagogy about the “democratic elections” is heard, and at the same time even minimal chances for free election is clamped down on cruelly”.

ZINAIDA BANDARENKA, the people’s artiste of Belarus: “People are made to vote, but a list of candidates is approved by the authorities. It is known for most people. Of course, protest is needed. I always attend meetings and rallies”.

CRISTINA GALLACH, press-secretary of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana: “Javier Solana and Alyaksandr Lukashenka talked on the phone. Mr Solana clearly explained Mr Lukashenka what great importance is given by the EI to the elections held in Belarus on September 28. Mr Solana has clearly stated that this election gives a chance for Belarus to show respect to the democratic values. So we would follow the election closely, as it will show whether Belarus would take the part of pluralism and openness, the path of respect to human rights, and in which manner it would”.

ZMITSER BANDARENKA, Charter’97 coordinator: “There are about 1000 international observers and hundreds of journalists of leading world media in Minsk now. We have urged people to come to the Square on September 28 and offer a demand of new free and fair election as a slogan of this action. Only then the voice of the Belarusian people will be heard in Belarus and abroad.”

VIKTAR IVASHKEVICH, a deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front party: “Everyone has to decide whether to give up or to fight for the future”.